Government doctors deserve a salary of at least P58,000 a month which is commensurate to their educational attainment and highly specialized skills, according to Representative Catherine Barcelona Reyes of the National Unity Party (NUP).

Barcelona-Reyes, who represents the first district of Camarines Norte and herself a medical doctor, said the present salary of government physicians at P26,878 is deemed insufficient when compared to their skills.

"Given their educational attainment, it is only proper that they be given a higher pay that reflects their services, capabilities and educational level. They will be encouraged more to provide quality medical services in rural and far-flung areas because of financial security and the right income," said the lawmaker, who is vice chairperson of the House committee on Health.

Barcelona-Reyes said a government doctor’s monthly pay, which is equivalent only to Salary Grade 16 in the public sector, should be raised to Salary Grade 25 or P58,730.

She has filed House Bill No. 5499 or the proposed ‘Suweldo ni Dok’ Act, to legislate her proposal.

"It is one thing to provide a universal healthcare system. But how can the people have access to healthcare in their areas if there is an absence of government doctors?" said Barcelona-Reyes.



Citing  a study done by the Department of Health (DOH), Barcelona-Reyes pointed out that  there are 26,742 government health workers, of whom only  2,838 are government doctors. "They are unevenly distributed in the country and largely concentrated in Metro Manila and nearby areas," she added.

The DOH study further showed that the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao (ARMM), Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), and the  Davao Region had the least number of government doctors.

Barcelona-Reyes’ measure is now pending at the House Committee on Appropriations.